Anybody have any tips of effective marketing to gain clients?

How did you gain your clientelle?

My number one source of new clients: Asking for referrals!

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This is going to sound really, really weird. But my most effective marketing is to NOT look for clients. I know it doesn't make sense but it's a mindset. Network, Network, Network. When you're networking always ALWAYS look for what you can do for the other person. Don't go into it with wanting to get a client go into it to find people you can help and be sincere about it.

Remember you're ALWAYS networking/marketing your business. For example, I had to go to the mall for a client today (long story...) while I was there I went off the clock and shopped (I figured I was due since I was putting 120 miles on my car to do this for my client LOL). I had to use the bathroom and walked in behind a pregnant lady. While we were washing her hands I mentioned that I thought she looked great pregnant. We ended up talking about the baby, her husband, how she came here to have her baby, that they live in Japan, and a bunch of other stuff. Ends up her husband is a translator and she wants to move to the US but he needs to be able to work here. She now has my business card with an offer to contact me if her husbands wants some ideas of working virtually. (Plus I told her to send me pictures of her baby when it's born LOL.) I don't know who she knows. I don't know what her future holds. But, she knows that I was interested in her and her baby and took the time to give her an option for a problem she has. And, she has my business card.

I am horrible at intensional marketing...networking I can do and it's what gets me the most business. But, I used to HATE networking because I thought I was there to find clients. As soon as I looked at it as a way to meet people and learn about them I came to love it.

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Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

Originally Posted by lanelt

This is going to sound really, really weird. But my most effective marketing is to NOT look for clients. I know it doesn't make sense but it's a mindset. Network, Network, Network. When you're networking always ALWAYS look for what you can do for the other person. Don't go into it with wanting to get a client go into it to find people you can help and be sincere about it. Remember you're ALWAYS networking/marketing your business. For example, I had to go to the mall for a client today (long story...) while I was there I went off the clock and shopped (I figured I was due since I was putting 120 miles on my car to do this for my client LOL). I had to use the bathroom and walked in behind a pregnant lady. While we were washing her hands I mentioned that I thought she looked great pregnant. We ended up talking about the baby, her husband, how she came here to have her baby, that they live in Japan, and a bunch of other stuff. Ends up her husband is a translator and she wants to move to the US but he needs to be able to work here. She now has my business card with an offer to contact me if her husbands wants some ideas of working virtually. (Plus I told her to send me pictures of her baby when it's born LOL.) I don't know who she knows. I don't know what her future holds. But, she knows that I was interested in her and her baby and took the time to give her an option for a problem she has. And, she has my business card. I am horrible at intensional marketing...networking I can do and it's what gets me the most business. But, I used to HATE networking because I thought I was there to find clients. As soon as I looked at it as a way to meet people and learn about them I came to love it.

Funny thing... when I read this response, I was like that probably works great for you because you are already well established. My down fall in the business is that I am not a "Seller".


So, I did alot of advertising all morning long and I decided to call it quits and chat on yahoo with friends. I decided to post the link of my website next to my name not expecting to get any clients but I posted it anyway. I did that and I swear in 10 minutes I got a client. Now I know I have many many friends/non-friends on my yahoo but still I never expected that! I was like WOW she was right!

WooHoo!!!!! How exciting that you got a new client today!!!! I know you can't see and you're probably thinking I'm kidding but I actually did a happy dance when I read that!

Networking, advertising, and marketing can be frustrating. You don't always get immediate results from your work. Just keep at it. My problem is self-discipline and making sure I don't spend too much time networking and not enough time working.

I'm so NOT a seller too. It's not even funny how much I don't like selling myself. I wish I could tell you some quick tip to get tons of client's NOW. I don't have the secret...it's all about continuously keeping your name out there.

Although, if someone has a quick tip send it my way, PLEASE.

Actually, that reminds me.....one book I read that helped me TREMENDOUSLY (as in I had to stop reading the book because I was too busy responding to inquiries) was Get Client's Now!. I can't guarantee the same results and doubt I'll ever get them again but that book did wonders for my business.

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Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.